Knee decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her right and left knee disabilities, as well as a claim for TDIU due to service-connected disability, are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service medical records and additional evidence submitted by the Veteran. The AMC/RO is instructed to obtain these records and review the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for certification for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability. The VA examiners concluded that these disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, manifested by failed prosthesis with severe painful motion and moderate lateral instability requiring a knee brace, is rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 5257 for moderate knee instability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied due to lack of a diagnosed PTSD. The claims for tinnitus, right knee disability, and lumbar spine disability are also being remanded as the July 2010 VA examination did not provide opinions on their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from the Atlanta Medical Hospital related to his fall and surgery in June and August 2009.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the right knee disability, from May 1, 2006. The claim for TDIU was also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Osgood-Schlatter's disease of the right knee with degenerative joint disease were denied. The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding these issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence linking his current conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable disability ratings for his service-connected right elbow, left wrist, right knee, and left knee disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and updated treatment records.

The Board found no evidence of any diagnosed disorders of the wrists, hands or knees during or after active service. The Veteran's complaints were attributed to repetitive motions and cold weather, but there is no objective evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's left hip and left knee disorders are found to have had their onset in service, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis due to aggravation by his service-connected right ankle disability.

The Veteran's right and left shoulder disabilities, as well as his knee disability, have been denied higher ratings.,Service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board noted that the lumbar spine strain was rated as 20 percent disabling, right knee disability as 10 percent disabling, and left knee disability as 10 percent disabling.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities were denied by the RO. The case is being remanded to provide additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral knees, to include as secondary to her service-connected patellofemoral dysfunction and strain, is being remanded. Her claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease of the lower spine is also being remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee degenerative changes of the patellofemoral compartment and mild spurring of the tibial spines are currently rated as noncompensable due to lack of objective findings of limitation of motion, ankylosis, or other disabling symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred from July 27, 2008 to July 28, 2008 was denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency care under VA regulations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left knee disability was granted, with the effective date being February 19, 2010. The Veteran is now rated at 30 percent for status post left knee ACL reconstruction.